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Westfield Matildas set for Algarve Cup departure

A 22-player Westfield Matildas squad will depart for the 2018 Algarve Cup in Portugal this evening without star attacker Kyah Simon who has unfortunately been ruled out of the tournament due to injury.

Simon suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday’s Westfield W-Legaue 2018 Grand Final won by Melbourne City FC at Allianz Stadium, and has been replaced in Alen Stajcic’s squad by 19-year-old Adelaide United midfielder Alex Chidiac.

It is hoped that Simon will be fit to re-join the Westfield Matildas upon their return to Australia next month as the squad continues its preparations for the highly anticipated 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup with a camp and friendly international against Thailand in Perth.

Stajcic said that while it is disappointing that Simon – as well as another injured attacker Caitlin Foord – will not be able to travel to Portugal for the Algarve Cup, their absence will provide opportunities for other players to impress.

“We would love to have Kyah and Caitlin with us in Portugal however it is in their best interests to remain in Australia and continue their respective recoveries,” said Stajcic.

“We’ll have four games over just eight days in Portugal, so the tournament will provide a chance for all the players involved in the squad to impress as we move towards the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

“It is also fantastic that it has now been confirmed that, like last year, all our games at the 2018 Algarve Cup will be broadcast live in Australia on FOX SPORTS.

“Hopefully our performances in Portugal will continue to drive momentum leading into our next match on Australian soil in Perth, as well as the [AFC Women’s] Asian Cup,” concluded Stajcic.

The Westfield Matildas have been grouped with Norway, China PR, and hosts Portugal at the 2018 Algarve Cup. Stajcic’s squad will play their pool matches in the cities of Albufeira (two matches) and Algarve, before playing a fourth and final ranking match at the 12-team invitational tournament in a yet to be determined location.

Following the 2018 Algarve Cup the Westfield Matildas will return to Australia where they will continue their preparations for the important 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which will be held in Jordan.

Australia will play Japan, Korea Republic and Vietnam in Group B of the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The top five teams at the tournament will qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in France.